You must contact each credit reporting agency with which you wish to place a freeze.Ī temporary lift allows the credit reporting agency to release your credit report to a specified party (specific third party lift) or to all third parties with a permissible purpose for a specified period of time (global lift). Check the individual agency's website for specific instructions on how to obtain a freeze. Thus, each credit reporting agency has its own procedures in place. The "Security Freeze” law does not specify what information the credit reporting agencies may require to place a freeze on your credit reports. Send a written request via certified mail or by using another method authorized by the credit reporting agency. Therefore, you should continue to regularly check your monthly bank account and credit card statements for signs of any suspicious activity. In addition, a freeze will not prevent a thief from fraudulently using your existing credit card or bank accounts. Since there may be a delay between the receipt of your request and the actual lift or removal, it is important to plan ahead to ensure that your credit report is accessible for purchases and other significant transactions. Since a freeze blocks third parties from accessing a consumer's credit report, it makes it very difficult for a potential identity thief to fraudulently open a new account in your name.įreezes may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of new loans, credit, mortgages, government services or payments, insurance, rental housing, employment, investments, licenses, cellular phone service, utility service, digital signature, Internet credit card transactions, and extension of in-store credit. Businesses generally do not extend credit to an individual without first checking his or her credit report. Unlike many identity theft protection methods which are only effective after identity theft has occurred, credit report freezes can help protect consumers from identity theft before it happens.Ĭredit report freezes are designed to prevent thieves from opening new accounts in the consumer's name. consumers on until December 31, 2026. These reports are included in the free weekly Equifax credit reports currently offered on through April 2021.A credit report security freeze generally allows a consumer to block access to his or her credit report by third parties (such as credit lenders or other companies) who are not exempted under law.Īll Virginians have a right to obtain a freeze on their credit report from the individual credit reporting agencies. ![]() In connection with various settlements, Equifax is making at least six additional free Equifax credit reports each year available online to U.S. To opt out of such pre-approved offers, visit Entities that may still have access to your Equifax credit report include: companies like Equifax Consumer Services LLC, which provide you with access to your credit report or credit score, or monitor your credit report as part of a subscription or similar service companies that provide you with a copy of your credit report or credit score, upon your request federal, state and local government agencies and courts in certain circumstances companies using the information in connection with the underwriting of insurance, or for employment, tenant or background screening purposes companies that have a current account or relationship with you, and collection agencies acting on behalf of those whom you owe companies that authenticate a consumer's identity for purposes other than granting credit, or for investigating or preventing actual or potential fraud and companies that wish to make pre-approved offers of credit or insurance to you. Freezing your Equifax credit report will not prevent access to your credit report at any other credit reporting agency. Placing a security freeze on your Equifax credit report will prevent access to it by certain third parties.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |